Rhys Williams gone. Shane Lowry gone. That's the reward two young defenders got for their decisions over the last 18 months to switch camps to Australia. Two players born and raised in Perth, but who played their junior international football with Wales and Ireland respectively. Then came the change of heart, with the World Cup on the horizon. In the end, what they got was heartache.

Lowry presumably not good enough. Williams clearly not fit enough. Struggling with osteitis-pubis throughout the preparation, Williams was the last man out. His World Cup dreams ended with him sitting on an ice box, watching the rest of the squad go through their paces at a sun-drenched St Stithians School yesterday. So near, and yet so far. Josh Kennedy ran past and patted him on the head. Vince Grella came over and put his arm around his shoulder. A forlorn figure, but not a tragic one. Like Lowry, Williams has plenty of time to build an international career. Next year's Asian Cup will be the target now that the World Cup has gone. Small consolation for the moment, but time will heal the wound. It has to.

The door that's closed for Williams and Lowry has opened for Dario Vidosic. He was the man under the gun, competing against the more experienced Richard Garcia, but the domino effect has favoured him. And based on his efforts over the last two weeks, both in training and in the games against New Zealand and Denmark, Vidosic earned his reprieve.

There'll be a reshuffle of sorts, and the good news is that it means Australia will go into the World Cup with more options in attack. Brett Emerton or Mark Milligan will take Williams's role as cover for Luke Wilkshire at right back, and the inclusion of Vidosic means the Socceroos now have extra pace, and some skill, for both wide midfield positions and, at a pinch, in the hole behind the striker. Who knows, Vidosic might even cover Wilkshire, for he played part of the recent German season as a right back.

So, after a year of speculation - that's when the Socceroos officially qualified for the World Cup - Pim Verbeek has finally made his cull. At last we know the 23 players who will carry the hopes of a nation in South Africa. It's been a drawn-out process.

One British newspaper claimed Football Federation Australia had missed the deadline. Truth was, FIFA agreed to the FFA request not to publish the names until after Wednesday's recovery session. The names were known, but not to the public. Until Verbeek walked into the media room, 15 minutes late, and then delivered the news with a sombre expression and a monotone voice.

Was this the unkindest cut of all? Hard to say. Williams said he was ''heartbroken'', which he would be. But ask Joel Griffiths how he felt about being left out of the preliminary squad of 31. Ask Nicky Carle or Scott McDonald how they felt about being told last week they wouldn't be getting on the plane. Truth is, there's never a good time to have your dream shattered and your pride hurt. But life goes on all the same.